Their Discourse continued.

his own house, but I also turned aside to go in the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal argument of one Mr. Worldly-Wiseman. (s)

Good-w. Oh! did he light upon you? What, he would have had you seek for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality? They are both of them very cheats. But did you take his counsel ?

Chr. Yes, as far as I durst: I went to find out Mr. Legality, until I thought that the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop. (t)

Good-w. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more: It is well you escaped being dashed to pieces by it.

Chr. Why truly, I do not know what had become of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my dumps: but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such an one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to stand talking with my Lord: But oh! what a favor is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here. (u)

(s) When there is true grace in the heart, it will take shame to itself, and give all the glory to God's sovereign grace, for any difference there is between us and others. Free grace kills free will pride, and lays the sinner low, while it exhalts Christ, and causes sinners to triumph in his righteousness and salvation.

(t) Though Jesus knows what is in man, and all his ways, yet he will bring the soul to confession unto him. See the loving heart of Christ to sinners, and the free communications he admits them to with himself. Oh! ye his people, pour out your hearts before him: God-Jesus is a refuge for us. Psalm Ixiii. 8.

(a) It is a sure sign of a genuine work of grace, when the heart ascribes all to grace. Here is no talk of being faithful to grace; no ascribing any thing to his own free will or power; but his escaping from destruction, and being yet in the way of salvation, are wholly resolved in the grace of the gospel, the mercy of God, and

Christian directed on his way.

Good-w. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding all that they have done before they came hither. *They in no wise are cast out; and therefore, good Christian, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee: dost thou see this narrow way? THAT is the way thou must go; it was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and his apostles, and it is as straight as a rule can make it; this is the way thou must go.

Chr. But, said Christian, (x) are there no turnings nor windings, by which a stranger may lose his way?

Good-w. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they are crooked and wide; but thus thou mayest distinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow.

Then I saw in my dream that Christian asked him farther, if he could not help him off with the burden that was on his back. For as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help.

He told him, As to thy burden, be content to bear it, until thou comest to the Place of Deliverance; (y) for there it will fall from thy back of itself.

* John vi. 37

Matt. vii. 14.

in his free favour and Almighty power. It is sweet to converse with Jesus, of his free grace to wretched and unworthy sinners.Do you not find it so?

(x) Christian afraid of losing his way; a blessed sign of a gracious heart, when it possesses good jealously.

(y) There is no deliverance from the guilt and burden of sin, but by the death and blood of Christ. Here observe that, though a sinner, at his first coming to Christ, finds some comfort and encouragement, yet he may not have a clear sense of pardon and assurance of the forgiveness of his sins, but he may still feel the burden of them. But, by his faith in Jesus, will be putting his Lord in mind of them.

Arrives at the House of the Interpreter.

Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his journey. So the other told him, That by that he was gone some distance from the gate, he would come at the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would shew him excellent things. Then Christian took leave of his friend, and he again bid him God speed.

Then he went on until he came to the house of the Interpreter, (b) where he knocked over and over; at last, one came to the door, and asked, who was there?

Chr. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the good man of this house, to call here for my profit: I would therefore speak with the master of the house; so he called for the master of the house, who, after a little time, came to Christian, and asked him, what he would have? (c)

Chr. Sir, said Christian, I am a man that am come from the City of Destruction, and am going to the Mount Zion; and I was told by the man that stands at the gate, at the head of this way, that if I called here, you would shew me excellent things, such as would be a help to me on my journey.

Inter. Then said the Interpreter, Come in: I will shew thee that which will be profitable to thee. (d) So he commanded his man to light the candle, and bid Christian follow him: so he had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, Christian saw the picture

(b) Christian comes to the house of the Interpreter; which means the Lord the Spirit, the teacher of his people.

(c) Christians go too often to consult with men, instead of the Lord himself; this is a fault and a folly.

(d) O how loving, how condescending, is the Spirit of God ta poor miserable sinners.

1

The Picture of the Guide to Pilgrims.

of a very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it: he had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of truth was written upon his lips, the world was behind his back; he stood as if he pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over his head.

Chr. Then said Christian, What meaneth this? Inter. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can beget children,† travail in birth with children, and nurse them himself when they are born. And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lifted to heaven, the best of books in his hand; and the law of truth written on his lips; it is to shew thee, that his work is, to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men; and whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to shew thee, that slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath for his master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next, to have glory for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I have shewed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whether thou art going, hath authorised to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way; wherefore take good heed to what I have shewed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death. (e)

(e) This is a true picture of a gospel minister; one whom the Lord the Spirit has called and qualified for preaching the everlasting gospel. He is one who despises the world, is dead to its pleasures and joy; his chief aim is to exalt and glorify the Lord Jesus, his atoning blood, justifying righteousness, and finished salvation;

The Parlour full of Dust explained.

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept: the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep the dust began abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither the water, and sprinkle the room; the which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Chr. Then said Christian, What means this?

Inter. The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel; the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first, is the law; but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now whereas thou sawest, that as soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about, that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to shew thee, that the law instead of cleansing the heart, by its working, from sin,* doth revive, put strength into, and increase in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power to subdue it.

Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the

Rom. xv. 20.

* Rom. vii. 6. + 1 Cor. xv. 56. and bis greatest glory is to bring sinners to Christ, to point him out as the one way to them, and to edify and build up saints in him. But there are many who profess to do this, but turn poor sinners out of the way, and point them to a righteousness of their own for justification in whole or in part. Of these the Spirit teaches us to beware; the former, he leads and directs souls to love and esteem highly for their labors and faith in the Lord, and zeal for his honor and glory, and for the salvation of souls. "Take heed what you

hear." Mark iv. 24.